QUESTION: What is the maximum number of of electrons that can be assigned to a 2p orbital of an atom? A. 2, B. 3, C. 6, D. 10 Pauli’s Exclusion Principle: maximum of 2 electrons per orbital; 2 electrons must have opposite spins For the 2p subshell ---- which consists of three 2p orbitals --- maximum of 6 electrons. But for each of the 2p orbital. SCRIPT What is the maximum number of electrons that can be assigned to a 2p orbital of an atom? Two… three… five… or ten? PAUSE 2 SECONDS CLICK Pauli’s exclusion principle puts a restriction on the assignment of electrons to orbitals. According to Pauli’s principle, no more than two electrons can be assigned for ANY orbital. And… If an orbital does have two electrons, they must be of opposite spin. That is… one must be spin up and the other must spin down. The correct answer is 2. If you thought the answer was six. You may be thinking of the 2p subshell. A 2p subshell consists of three 2 p orbitals. Since each orbital can be assigned to two electrons, the 2p subshell can be assigned to six electrons. Three times two equals six. END RECORDING

Video ID: 2-3-8 © 2008, Project VALUE (Video Assessment Library for Undergraduate Education), Department of Physical Sciences Nicholls State University Author: Glenn V. Lo Funded by Louisiana Board of Regents Contract No. LA-DL-SELECT-13-07/08